OLUWOLE OMOFEMI: A Woman's Worth

"Omofemi's work has always elevated his subjects, most of whom are either friends and relatives of his, or strangers he encounters. Pride, self esteem, authenticity, and heritage, are all key, recurring motifs that weave together the entirety of his oeuvre, often manifested in his honorific, striking portraits of independent black women, crowned either with halo-esque afros, cornrow braids, or completely bald, 'sakora' hairstyles, indigenous to, and ubiquitous amongst his fellow compatriots, and dating back a millennia.

'A Woman's Worth' the solo exhibition is by all intents and purposes an extension of Omofemi's ongoing narration, musings and reflections on what it is to be a woman of note, self respect and integrity, through the lens of a black man, striving to not only uplift his fellow sisters, but also to hold his fellow black brothers to account to encourage and promote that they do the same.

In Omofemi's own words, his aim and inspiration behind this new series, was to capture the very 'essence' of his subjects; who they are, and what they represent outside of their roles, experiences, obligations and accomplishments. Many of his sitters are wives, mothers, sisters, with various occupations, and varying degrees of success and achievements, but beyond the tangible, and their readily accessible characteristics, the artist's boldest attempt in this series is to strive to capture the transcendent nature of his subjects, to allow the viewer to truly connect with, see and understand them for who they are."

Raphael Dapaah
Art writer & Art Consultant OOA Gallery

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